Rotary-to-reciprocating device

ABSTRACT

A reciprocating device is disclosed which converts the magnetic force of permanent magnets into reciprocating motion. The reciprocating device comprises at least one cylinder chamber formed in an engine block. The cylinder chamber is open-bottomed. A piston which is made of a magnetic material having a predetermined polarization is slidably disposed in the cylinder chamber. A disc is rotatably mounted to the engine block. The disc has a surface therein movable relative to the open bottom of the cylinder chamber. At least one permanent magnet having a magnetic polarization identical to that of the piston is mounted on the surface of the disc. The disc is rotatable selectively to align the permanent magnet with the piston periodically. The repulsion force between the piston and the permanent magnet causes the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder chamber.

United States Patent [1 1 Kiniski i f ROTARY-TO-RECIPROCATING DEVICEZane Chadrick Kiniski, Toronto,

[75] Inventor: I

' Ontario, Canada [73] Assignee: Unit-l- 1, Toronto, Qntarjo,

Qanq2 221 Filed: Apr.2,1973

[21 Appl. No.2 346,783

521 u.s. ci....'... 310/80, 3i0/24, 310/103- [51] 1111.01. ..H02k 7/06 4[58]. Field of Sealchu ,310/24, 103,80, 190

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,703,653 11/1972 Tracy etall 310/24 8/1929 Worthington.-.. 310/190 U $636,391 l/l972 Horner eta1. 310/24 3,609,425 9/1971 Sheridan 310/103 3,328,615 Bakker et a1.310/80 Primary Examiher-D. F. Duggan [451 May 14, 1974 571 ABSTRACT Areciprocating device is disclosed which converts the magnetic force ofpermanent magnets into reciprocating motion. The reciprocating devicecomprises at least one cylinder chamber formed in an engine block; Thecylinder chamber is open-bottomed. A piston which is made of a magneticmaterial having a predetermined polarization is slidably disposed in thecylinder chamber. A disc is rotatably mounted to the engine block. Thedisc has a surfacetherein movable relative to the open bottom of thecylinder chamber. At

least one permanent magnet having a magnetic polarization identical tothat of the piston is mounted on the surface of the disc. The disc isrotatable selectively to' align the permanent magnet with the pistonperiodically. The repulsion force between the piston and the permanentmagnet causes the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder chamber.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 14 I974 3.81 1. 058 saw 1 or 2FIG. 3

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to areciprocating device and particularly relates to a device for convertingmagnetic force into reciprocating motion.

Reciprocating devices are well known in which a piston is slidablydisposed within a cylinder chamber. A driving force is periodicallygenerated in the cylinder chamber to drive the piston into reciprocatingmotion.

Reciprocating engines such as internal combustion engines, steam enginesare operated in this manner. Such reciprocating engines require aconstant supply of fuel to operate and thecombustion of the fuel createsexhaust emission which pollutes the atmosphere andis harmful to humanhealth. I

Electromagnetic force has been utilized to provide the driving force forreciprocating engines or devices. In such devices, a plurality ofelectrical coils surrounding the engine cylinder chamber are provided.The electrical coils are actuated by electrical currents so that anelectromagnetic force is developed in the cylinder chamber to drive thepiston into a reciprocating motion. However, electromagneticreciprocating devices are usually.very complex in structure and veryelaborate control means must be incorporated in the structure to operatethe device in a controlled and useful manner. Furthermore, a constantsupply of large electrical current must be fed to the coils in order todevelop a useful reciprocating motion.

I have. discovered that the magnetic energy stored in permanent magneticmaterials such as permanent magnets may be. utilized to provide thedriving force necessary for reciprocating devices. Such energy source isconstant and has a long operating life. The energy can be converted intomechanical force by the co-action of the magnetic element with amagnetizable element or between two magnetic elements. The repulsion orattraction force between two magnetic elements is very strong which canbe expressed by the equation:

Magnetic force= p. (q q /r in which q,, q are the magnetic strength ofeach magnet element respectively; r is the distance between the magnetelements; and p. is the permeability of the conducting medium betweenthe magnet elements, which for vacuum and/or air isapproximately equalto l.

When two magnets having similar magnetic polarity are juxtaposed to eachother, and if one of the magnets is held fixed, the other magnet will bedriven away from the fixed magnet by the repulsion force.

The magnetic force radiated from a magnetic material is normallyproportional tothe size of the material and therefore is indirectlyproportional to the weight of the material. It has been'observed thatthe repulsion force between two magnets is large enough to repel 500times their-own weight. That is, when two magnets weighing one poundeach are juxtaposed to each other, a repulsion force of 500 pounds iscreated between them to drive the magnets apart. Such high repulsionforce is particularly found in magnetic materials such as strontiumferrite alloy. The repulsion magnetomotive force is useful for drivingthe piston of reciprocating devices.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide adevice which converts magnetic energy into reciprocating motion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotary enginewhich is driven by magnetic force.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide areciprocating system which requires a low external energy input toprovide a large energy output.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide areciprocating system which is simple in structure and is simple tooperate.

According to the present invention, the reciprocating device comprisesan engine block having at least one cylinderchamber formed therein, apiston slidably disposed within the cylinder chamber, the pistonconsisting of a magnetic element having a predetermined magneticpolarity and positioned normally immediate an opening of the cylinderchamber, a movable member disposed in a spaced relation to the cylinderblock and having a surface therein movable perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder chamber, at least one fixed magneticelement fixedly mounted on the mov-- able member, the fixed magneticelement having a magnetic polarity identical to the magnetic polarity ofthe piston, the movable member being movable selectively to align themagnetic element to the piston so as to drive the piston to move in areciprocating motion within the cylinder chamber;

These and other objects of the invention together with its advantageswill be more apparent from the following description and drawings, whichillustrate specific embodiments by way of example and in which:

- vice according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation of the rotatable disc of the reciprocatingdevice according to the present invention;

- ment of the reciprocating device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of an alternate embodi- FIG. 4 is asectional side view of another alternate embodiment of the reciprocatingdevice; and

FIG. 5 is another sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4taken along line A-A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsin which all parts unless otherwise indicated are made ofnon-magnetizable material and in which like numerals indicate likeparts, FIG. 1 shows a reciprocating device having an engine block 10mounted in a spaced relation to a mounting base 11. Two verticalcylinder chambers 12 and 13 are formed in the block- 10 and are locatedfrom each other. The cylinder chambers 12 and 13 preferably have acircular cross-section and the walls therein are coated with a coatingof a material having a low surface friction such asTeflon (a'trade markof El. Du Pont). The cylinder chambers have bottom openings 15 and 16respectively facing downwards. Two top openings 17 and 18 are formedrespectively in the centre of the top wall of the cylinder chambers.

Two pistons 20 and 22 are slidably disposed within the cylinderchambers. The pistons are made of a ferromagnetic material such asstrontium ferrite alloy which has a high magnetic property. The bottomsurface of the pistons is of an identical magnetic polarity either bothof north or south magnetic pole. Connecting rods 24 and 26 are movablyconnected to the pistons in a conventional manner. Connecting rods 24and 26 extend through the top openings l7.and l8 and are movcrank shaft27 is such that when one of the U-shaped sections is at the top deadcentre position the other U- shaped section is at the bottom dead centreposition.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the U-shaped section coupled with connectingrod 24 is at the top dead centre position and the U-shaped sectioncoupled to the connecting rod 26 is at the bottom dead centre position.Therefore, connecting rod 26' maintains the piston 22 at the normalposition immediate bottom opening 16 of cylinder chamber 13,.whileconnecting rod 24 raises piston 20 to the upper position close to thetop wall in cylinder chamber 12. Two biasingmeans such as coil springs28 and 29 may be provided in the cylinder chambers to assist the pistonsto return to the normal lower position.

A movable member such as a disc 30 is mounted in the space between theengine block and the mount- I ing base VII. The disc 30 is preferablycircular in shape shown in FIG. 1. A prime mover such as an electricmotor 36' is coupled to the central shaft 32 to rotate the disc withrespect to the engine block. The central shaft 32 is located midwaybetween the vertical axes of cylinder chambers'12 and 13 and the topsurface of the disc is in close proximity to the lower surface of theengine block 10.

A magnet 38 is mounted fixedly in a circular locus in disc 30 directlyunder the magnetic pistons or 22. The top surface of magnet 38 has amagnetic polarity identical to the bottom surface of the magneticpistons 20 and 22. Thus, when the disc 30 is rotated by the electricmotor 36, the magnet 38 is periodically aligned directly under themagnetic pistons. As shown in FIG. 1, magnet 38 is aligned with piston20, and the repulsion force developed therein forces piston 20 upwards.The upward thrust on piston 20 is transmitted through the connecting rod24 to turn the crank shaft 27. The size of the magnet 38 and therotational speed are timed such that magnet 38 commences alignment undermagnetic piston 20 when the U-shaped section of the crank shaft isslightly passed the bottom dead centre position in its rotation, andmagnet 38 will go out of alignment with magnetic piston 20 completelywhen the U-shaped section of the crank shaft is rotated slightly pastthe top dead centre; therefore, the inertia of the rotating crank shaft,the gravitational force of the'magnetic piston 20 and the expansionforce of the biasing spring 28 are combined together to pull themagnetic piston 20 downwards to return it to the lower position. Aflywheel (not shown) is mounted on the crank shaft to maintain theinertia of its rotation. Similar operations occur in magnetic piston 22when the magnet 38 is aligned therewith. Thus, magnetic pistons 20 and22 are alternately actuated to reciprocate within the respectivecylinder chamber and the reciprocating motion is converted to rotationalmotion in the crank shaft.

It can be appreciated that only a low power electric motor is requiredto rotate the disc 30 so as to develop a large rotational force in thecrank shaft because only about one pound force is required to rotate thedisc in order to develop a 500 pound reciprocating thrust in eachcylinder. Therefore, a relatively small electrical energy is required tooperate the system to obtain a large power output therefrom.

The timing of the operation of magnetic pistons 20 and 22 is dependenton the rotational speed of the disc.

A plurality of magnets 38 may be mounted in the disc 30 over an arcslightly less than degrees as best shown in FIG. 2 to provide a constantupward thrust force on the piston over the entire period when the U-shaped section of the crank shaft is rotating from the bottom deadcentre piston to the top dead centre position. Thus, pistons 20 and 22are alternately forced upwards by a constant repulsion force over theentire period to provide a constant output in the crank shaft. Althougha plurality of magnets 38 is shown, it can be appreciated that a singlearcuate magnetic element may be used for the same purpose.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment in which the motor 36 is mounted onthe side portion of the mounting base. A gear arrangement is coupledbetween the motor and the central shaft 32 'to rotate the disc 30. Thisembodiment facilitates easy access to the motor 30 for adjustment orrepair purposes.

Two cylinders are shown in the above embodiments. However it can beappreciated that more than two cylinders may be provided to rotate thecrank shaft. For example, at least one more cylinder may be incorporatedbetween the cylinders 12 and 13 in a smaller distance away from thecentral shaft 32, and at least one magnet may be mounted in the disc inthe similar manner as described above to operate the magnetic piston inthe additional cylinder.

The disc 30 may be mounted sideways with respect to the cylinderchambers as shown in FIG. 4. Four discs are shown, however, it isapparent that the system may be operated with any number of discs andassociated cylinders. The fixed magnets 38a through 38d are mounted atthe edge portion ofjthe disc and as the discs are rotated by the motor36, the magnets 38a through 38d are alternately aligned to therespective piston in the respective cylinder. Similarly, a series ofmagnets may be mounted in each disc as shown in FIG. 5 to provide aconstant upward thrust to rotate the crank shaft over the entire periodwhen its respective 'U-shaped sections are rotating from the bottom deadcentre position to the top dead centre position in order to provide aconstant energy output in the crank shaft.

Two magnets 40 and 41 may be mounted in the mounting base 11 directlyopposite to cylinder chambers l2 and 13 as shown in FIG. 1 to counterbalance the reaction force pressing downwardly on the disc 30 due to therepulsion force between the magnet 38 and magnetic pistons 20 and 22.Alternatively, the mounteral principles and scope of the invention.

having two. cylinder chambers directly opposite to cylinder chambers 12and 13, and similar magnetic pistons are provided therein to rotate acrank shaft mounted on the bottom surface of the additional engineblock. Thus, a pair of pistons will be actuated by the same magnet 38 toturn both the upper and lower crank shaft.

It can be appreciated from the above illustrations that the devicesaccording to the present invention convert magnetic energy toreciprocating and rotational motion with an extremely high effic'iencydue to that it only requires a very small electrical energy input torotate the disc to provide an extremely powerful output rotationalmotion.

' While illustrative forms of the system in accordance with the presentinvention have. been described and shown herein, it will be understoodthat numerous changes may be made without departing from the gen- What Iclaim as newand desire to Patent of the United States is:

l. A reciprocating device comprising: an engine block having at leastone cylinder chamber formed therein; a piston slidably disposed withinsaid cylinder chamber; said piston consisting of a magnetic elementhaving a predetermined magnetic polarity and having a magnetic surfacetherein normally disposed immediate 'a bottom'opening of said cylinderchamber a disc member movably coupled to said engine block and said discmember being rotatable with respect to said engine block and having aselected surface therein movable in protect by Letters a spaced relationrelative to said bottom opening of r said cylinder chamber; at least onefixed magnetic element fixedly mounted on said selected surface; saidfixed magnetic element having a magnetic polarity identical to themagnetic polarity of said piston and said disc member being rotatableselectively to align said fixed magnetic element with said pistonperiodically so as to drive said piston to move in a reciprocatingmotion.

2. A reciprocating device according to claim 1 wherein saidpiston isnormally positioned in a lower section of said cylinder chamber and saidmagnetic surface is a bottom surface therein normally positioned flushwith the edge of said bottom opening.

3. A reciprocating device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality ofsaid fixed magnetic elements are miauntssi n locus of Slightly 1 .tha!89i9 ls n said surface o f sai d disc, member.

4. A reciprocating device according to claim 2 including connecting rodmeans coupled between said piston and a U-shaped section of a crankshaft rotatably mounted on said engine block whereby said crank shaft isrotated by the reciprocating motion of said piston.

5. A reciprocating device according to claim 2 wherein said piston andsaid fixed magnetic element consist of a. ferromagnetic material havinga high magnetic property. 7

6. A reciprocating device according to claim 1 7. A reciprocating deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said surface is'a circular peripheralsurface of said disc member, and said circular peripheral surface isspaced in a close proximity to said bottom opening of said cylinderchamber.

8. A reciprocating device comprising:

a horizontal engine block having at least two vertical cylinder chamberstherein; said cylinder chambers having a bottom opening and a topopening respectively; a first piston slidably disposed within one ofsaid cylinder chambers; a second piston slidably disposed in the othercylinder chamber; said first piston and second piston having identicalmagnetic polarization; first connecting rod means movably coupled tosaid first piston and to a first U-shaped section of a crank shaftthrough said top opening of said first cylinder; said crank shaft beingrotatably mounted on'the top surface of said engine block; secondconnecting rod means movably coupled to said second piston and to asecond U- shaped section of said crank shaft through said top opening ofthe other cylinder chamber; said crank shaft being configured such thatwhen said first U- shaped section is at a top dead centre position saidsecond U-shaped section is at a bottom dead centre position; biasingmeans disposed within said cylinder chambers to normally maintain saidfirst piston and said second piston to position immediate to said bottomopenings respectively; a disc member rotatably mounted in a spacedrelation to the under surface of said engine block; said disc memberbeing rotatable with respect to a central shaft vertically locatedmidway between said vertical cylinder chambers; and said disc memberhaving a planar top surface located in a close proximity to said undersurface of said engine block; a plurality of fixed. magnetic elementsmounted in said disc smbsrovs ialgsys sflslighfly less n 59 grees anddirectly oppositeTJsa id Etiibiii openings of said vertical cylinderchambers, said fixed magnetic elements having a magnetic polarizationidentical to said first piston and second piston whereby said discmember is selectively rotatable to align said fixed magnetic elementswith said first piston and second piston alternately to drive said firstpis to the magnetic polarization of the pistons.

1. A reciprocating device comprising: an engine block having at leastone cylinder chamber formed therein; a piston slidably disposed withinsaid cylinder chamber; said piston consisting of a magnetic elementhaving a predetermined magnetic polarity and having a magnetic surfacetherein normally disposed immediate a bottom opening of said cylinderchamber a disc member movably coupled to said engine block and said discmember being rotatable with respect to said engine block and having aselected surface therein movable in a spaced relation relative to saidbottom opening of said cylinder chamber; at least one fixed magneticelement fixedly mounted on said selected surface; said fixed magneticelement having a magnetic polarity identical to the magnetic polarity ofsaid piston and said disc member being rotatable selectively to alignsaid fixed magnetic element with said piston periodically so as to drivesaid piston to move in a reciprocating motion.
 2. A reciprocating deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said piston is normally positioned in alower section of said cylinder chamber and said magnetic surface is abottom surface therein normally positioned flush with the edge of saidbottom opening.
 3. A reciprocating device according to claim 2, whereina plurality of said fixed magnetic elements are mounted in a locus ofslightly less than 180 degrees on said surface of said disc member.
 4. Areciprocating device according to claim 2 including connecting rod meanscoupled between said piston and a U-shaped section of a crank shaftrotatably mounted on said engine block whereby said crank shaft isrotated by the reciprocating motion of said piston.
 5. A reciprocatingdevice according to claim 2 wherein said piston and said fixed magneticelement consist of a ferromagnetic material having a high magneticproperty.
 6. A reciprocating device according to claim 1 wherein saidsurface is a planar top surface of said disc member, and said topsurface is spaced in a close proximity to said bottom opening of saidcylinder chamber.
 7. A reciprocating device according to claim 1 whereinsaid surface is a circular peripheral surface of said disc member, andsaid circular peripheral surface is spaced in a close proximity to saidbottom opening of said cylinder chamber.
 8. A reciprocating devicecomprising: a horizontal engine block having at least two verticalcylinder chambers therein; said cylinder chambers having a bottomopening and a top opening respectively; a first piston slidably disposedwithin one of said cylinder chambers; a second piston slidably disposedin the other cylinder chamber; said first piston and second pistonhaving identical magnetic polarization; first connecting rod meansmovably coupled to said first piston and to a first U-shaped section ofa crank shaft through said top opening of said first cylinder; saidcrank shaft being rotatably mounted on the top surface of said engineblock; second connecting rod means movably coupled to said second pistonand to a second U-shaped section of said crank shaft through said topopening of the other cylinder chamber; said crank shaft being configuredsuch that when said first U-shaped section is at a top dead centreposition said second U-shaped section is at a bottom dead centreposition; biasing means disposed within said cylinder chambers tonormally maintain said first piston and said second piston to positionimmediate to said bottom openings respectively; a disc member rotatablymounted in a spaced relation to the under surface of said engine block;said disc member being rotatable with respect to a central shaftvertically located midway between said vertical cylinder chambers; andsaid disc member having a planar top surface located in a closeproximity to said under surface of said engine block; a plurality offixed magnetic elements mounted in said disc member over a locus ofslightly less than 180 degrees and directly opposite to said bottomopenings of said vertical cylinder chambers, said fixed magneticelements having a magnetic polarization identical to said first pistonand second piston whereby said disc member is selectively rotatable toalign said fixed magnetic elements with said first piston and secondpiston alternately to drive said first piston and second piston incomplementary reciprocating motion so as to rotate said crank shaft. 9.A reciprocating device according to claim 8 including two permanentmagnets mounted in a mounting base mounted in a close spaced relation tothe under surface of said disc member and positioned directly oppositeto said cylinder chambers, said permanent magnets having an oppositemagnetic polarization to the magnetic polarization of the pistons.